Great joy for lung cancer patients

The accusations made by a private association against our study have proven to be unfounded after a thorough review by an employee of the NCI and NIH as well as by the editor of the top US journal TheOncologist.

The results of the study, namely a better quality of life and a longer survival of patients with very advanced lung cancer, have been impressively confirmed by an in-depth scientific investigation. I am delighted that the work has now been fully rehabilitated. This opens up new perspectives for lung cancer patients in cooperation between conventional and homeopathic medicine.

Frass M, et al. Homeopathic Treatment as an Add-On Therapy May Improve Quality of Life and Prolong Survival in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Eine prospektive, randomisierte, placebokontrollierte, doppelblinde, dreiarmige, multizentrische Studie. Oncologist. 2020;25:e1930-e1955.

Study withdrawn due to overqualification

Below, I describe the reasons that ultimately led to the withdrawal of the article on improving quality of life and prolonging survival in patients with small cell lung cancer from the renowned journal TheOncologist.

Summary:

After two years of meticulous review, the validity of our data was confirmed in September 2024. Then, on July 29, 2025, while I was on vacation, I received a surprise email from Prof. Susan Bates, editor of TheOncologist journal. Below is the English translation of this email:

I was asked to respond within 3 (three!) days, otherwise the article would be withdrawn. I replied within 2 days. To this day, I still don't understand what is meant by “one-armed study,” as I always compare 2 groups as a clinician. I was also surprised by the question about the use of homeopathic medicines (HMPs) in my private practice.

Even after sending another email, I received no response for about 2.5 months. Suddenly, I received an email dated October 24, 2025, informing me that the withdrawal had now been confirmed. The reason given was that the study might not be reproducible due to its individualized nature. Of course it would be, since several hundred Austrian doctors in the respective societies had been trained in classical homeopathy to date AND students at the Medical University of Vienna had been trained in classical homeopathy until 2018. Apart from the fact that none of the authors ever “marketed” homeopathic medicines at the respective clinics, the assumption that there is a conflict of interest at a price of around €15 per vial seems ridiculous. Neither I nor any of the co-authors ever received a commission from the pharmacy; on the contrary, the study medication had to be paid for.

The data, which was verified as correct in September 2024, was not questioned in any way.

The reason for the retraction therefore lies in the overqualification of the homeopaths, who have completed this additional medical training and have mastered the method.

Conclusion: The data from the study are correct, as they were thoroughly checked by the journal several years ago. The abstract of the study can therefore of course still be cited:

Frass M. Additive Homeopathy Improves Quality of Life and Prolongs Survival in Patients With NSCLC: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Three-Arm, Multicenter Study.  World Health Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, Oct 3–5, 2025. Available from: https://www.whc2025prague.com/program-en/michael-frass2